Top Ten Football Nosedives!!!?

Top Ten: Career nosedives in reverse order...

10. David Bentley

In July ’08, Spurs signed Bentley from Blackburn for £15m, with the winger looking to cement his place in the England team. Come the end of last season, the 24-year-old couldn’t even find his way onto Spurs’ bench after a spectacular loss of form. Perhaps he should have spent less time kicking balls into skips.

9. Freddie Ljungberg

In his final months at Arsenal, Freddie suffered from the dual losses of Dennis Bergkamp, who was so good at picking out the Swede’s incisive runs, and his acceleration, meaning Arsene Wenger moved him onto West Ham. After one forgettable season at Upton Park, it was clear that the underwear model was now – yes – pants.

8. Damien Duff

After providing so much penetration down Chelsea’s flanks for Jose Mourinho, the Newcastle iteration of Duff looked impotent in comparison. After a series of injuries, the pace and end product had gone, and the Irishman’s performances did little to fight off the Toon’s relegation.

7. Lee Bowyer

Since thrusting Leeds’ midfield forward in the Champions League in 2001, Bowyer’s career has gone into reverse, reaching a nadir with his on-field scrap with Kieron Dyer for Newcastle. Given another chance to impress at the top level with recent transfer to Birmingham.

6. Lauren

Lauren was a key member of Arsenal’s 03/04 Invincibles team, providing defensive solidity as well as toughness. When he found his first-team chances at the Gunners curtailed by the emergence of Emmanuel Eboue, the Cameroonian moved to Portsmouth, where he was usurped by Glen Johnson after failing to impress.

5. Alan Smith

At one point the tenacious Smith was seen as Roy Keane’s heir as the defensive presence in Manchester United’s midfield, but the ex-Leeds man was severely hampered by a broken leg in 2006 and hasn’t regained his form since. Yet to score for Newcastle despite being there for two seasons.

4. Danny Mills

Mills deputised capably for Gary Neville in England’s 2002 World Cup first eleven, but ever since that high point the right-back has struggled to find games. Currently without a club having been released from Manchester City on July 1st.

3. Andy van der Meyde

After scoring a fantastic Champions League goal for Inter Milan, the Dutch winger’s career looked on an inexorably upward trajectory. After being found surplus to requirements in Inter’s bloated squad, however, van der Meyde moved to Everton in 2005. He is still to achieve anything of note in a Toffees shirt.

2. Paul Robinson

Just when it seemed Robbo had the England #1 jersey cemented, he dropped the ball – quite literally, and quite regularly – after suffering a crisis of confidence from which he still hasn’t recovered, although his form did show signs of improvement at Blackburn last term.

1. Andrei Shevchenko

The Ukrainian arrived at Chelsea for £30m, and now it seems that they would struggle to give him away. Problems settling in England have eroded Shevchenko’s confidence, with his performances seeming like he wanted one more touch on the ball than the relentless Premier League would afford him.

Anyone think of any others?